Process for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil

Abstract

A process for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil emulsions to produce a raw gas containing CO and H2, the process including heating the bituminous oil emulsion to destabilize the emulsion and separating the bituminous oil from the emulsion water, concentrating the emulsion water by evaporation, and reacting in a gasification unit the bituminous oil, the concentrated emulsion water and oxygen or air to produce the raw gas containing mainly CO and H2.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Process for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil of secondary bituminous oil emulsions by means of oxygen or air, characterized in that the bituminous oil emulsion is separated into bituminous oil and emulsion water using heat and separation techniques to separate the oil and water, concentrating the separated emulsion water and using the concentrating water as moderator for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil. 
     
     
       2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that, as the result of more intensive evaporation, the amount of evaporated emulsion water is smaller than the moderator quantity necessary for partial oxidation of bituminous oil and in that said difference to be compensated is recycled carbon black-bearing water or waste water. 
     
     
       3. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the carbon black concentration in the water suspension is 0.5% to 20%. 
     
     
       4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that steam is deployed as additional moderator. 
     
     
       5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the vapors which form during evaporation of emulsion water are utilized for preheating of the secondary bituminous oil emulsion and the evaporation of emulsion water. 
     
     
       6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that the vapor condensates obtained by cooling of the vapors during evaporation of the emulsion water are used as quench water for cooling the raw gas resulting from partial oxidation. 
     
     
       7. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the vapor condensate is deployed as make-up water for saturating the fuel gas produced. 
     
     
       8. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the concentrated water is subjected to desalination and then deployed as moderator for the partial oxidation process. 
     
     
       9. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the preheating of the bituminous oil is carried out both upstream and downstream of pressurization. 
     
     
       10. A process for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil in secondary bituminous oil emulsions to provide a raw gas comprising CO and H 2 , the process comprising the steps of: (A) feeding a preheated secondary bituminous oil emulsion to an emulsion separator and separating the oil emulsion components to obtain a separated bituminous oil product and a separated emulsion oil water product,   (B) evaporating the emulsion oil water product to remove water and provide a concentrated emulsion oil water,   (C) feeding the bituminous oil product to a gasification unit means,   (D) feeding the concentrated emulsion oil water with the bituminous oil to the gasification means, and   (E) reacting the bituminous oil and the concentrated emulsion water and oxygen to provide raw gases comprising CO and H 2 .   
     
     
       11. A process for the partial oxidation of a bituminous oil in a secondary bituminous oil emulsion, the secondary emulsion having a viscosity no higher than about 3000 cP, with oxygen or air to provide a product gas comprising CO and H 2 , the process comprising the steps of: A. separating a bituminous oil emulsion into bituminous oil and emulsion water,   B. concentrating the emulsion water by removing water,   C. reacting the bituminous oil, the concentrated emulsion water and oxygen to partially oxidize the bituminous oil and provide product gas.   
     
     
       12. A process as defined in claim 11 in which the secondary bituminous oil emulsion has a water content of about 25 to 30%. 
     
     
       13. A process as defined in claim 12 in which the bituminous oil separated in Step A has about 1 to 3% by weight of water. 
     
     
       14. A process as defined in claim 11 in which the reacting in Step C is performed at about 1300° C. to 1500° C. and pressure of about 10 to 90 bar. 
     
     
       15. A process as defined in claim 11 in which the bituminous oil and concentrated emulsion water, prior to reacting in Step C, have a temperature of at least about 200° C. 
     
     
       16. A process as defined in claim 11 in which the separating in Step A is at a temperature of about 140° C. to 160° C. that destabilizes the bituminous oil emulsion. 
     
     
       17. A process as defined in claim 11 in which product gas produced in Step C contains CO, H 2 , CO 2 , H 2  O, H 2  S, N 2 , Ar and carbon black. 
     
     
       18. A process as defined in claim 11 in which water containing carbon black is also used as a reactant in reacting Step C. 
     
     
       19. A process for the partial oxidation of bituminous oil in a secondary oil emulsion, the secondary emulsion being an oil in water emulsion having a viscosity of no higher than about 3000 cP and a water content of about 30% by weight; the process comprising the steps of: A. separating the secondary emulsion into bituminous oil and emulsion water;   B. concentrating the emulsion water by removing water;   C. reacting the bituminous oil of step A and the concentrated water of step B with oxygen at about 1300° C. to 1500° C. at a pressure of about 10 to 90 bar to provide product gas comprising CO, H 2 , and CO 2 .   
     
     
       20. A process as defined in claim 19 in which the step (A) separating is performed by gravity. 
     
     
       21. A process as defined in claim 20 in which the step (A) separating is by gravity and subsequently by electrostatic field separation. 
     
     
       22. A process as defined in claim 19, in which the secondary emulsion has a viscosity of 400 to 1200 cP. 
     
     
       23. A process as defined in claim 19, in which the viscosity of the secondary emulsion is 1200 cP. 
     
     
       24. A process for the partial oxidation of a bituminous oil emulsion that is an oil in water emulsion having a viscosity of about 400 to 1200 cP and a water content of about 30% by weight; the process comprising the steps of: A. separating the emulsion into bituminous oil and emulsion water;   B. concentrating the emulsion water by removing water; and   C. reacting the bituminous oil of step A and the concentrated water of step B with oxygen at about 1300° C. to 1500° C. at a pressure of about 10 to 90 bar to provide product gas comprising CO, H 2 , and CO 2 .